Former teacher sentenced to more than eight years in prison
for distributing images of child sexual abuse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 14, 2012

NEWARK, N.J. – A former seventh grade science teacher and swim coach at an independent New Jersey day school was sentenced today to 97 months in prison for making available images and videos of pre-pubescent children being sexually abused – sometimes violently – to others over the Internet, U.S. Attorney Fishman announced.

Brian Stern, 35, of Plantation, Fla., and formerly of Montclair, N.J., previously pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography. He entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton, who also imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made during Stern’s guilty plea proceeding:

Until May 2011, when he was arrested, Stern downloaded and posted videos and images of child pornography via peer-to-peer file sharing software, through which others had access to the material on a shared drive. Stern admitted that his offerings included images of numerous children younger than 12 and depictions of sadistic and violent conduct. The images downloaded by federal investigators and found on Stern’s computer included pictures of very young children being restrained and sexually abused.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Stern to serve five years of supervised release. As part of his guilty plea, Stern agreed to forfeit the computer and computer accessories which he used to commit the offense. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI Newark Division’s Cyber Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward; and detectives of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam N. Subervi of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.